Test tube holder



Oct. 18, 1960 R. M. GAREY TEST TUBE HOLDER Filed May 3, 1960 FIGI.

FIG. 3.

/K &\/fl 5. 5. \I @QQ Q Q @i\ mvsm'onz RAYMOND M CAREY BY WW AT TYS United States Patent TEST TUBE HOLDER Raymond M. Garey, 1609 Ferndale Ave., Abington, Pa.

Filed May 3, 1960, Ser. No. 26,490

3 Claims. (Cl. 211-74) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in holders for test tubes and the like.

Present holders for test tubes and similar items normally support a test tube in such a manner that at least in one portion along the length of the test tube the test tube holder provides a horizontal obstruction completely across the test tube preventing the user from seeing the contents of that area of the test tube. Additionally, presently existing test tube holders will not securely grip the test tube and will permit the test tube to fall out of the holder if the holder is inverted; while many prior test tube holders will not readily accommodate test tubes of varying sizes.

With the foregoing in mind a principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel test tube holder which will permit the user of the test tube holder to view the contents of the test tube for the entire length of the test tube.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel test tube holder which resiliently grips the test tube and prevents the test tube from falling out of the holder when the holder is inverted.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel test tube holder which will accommodate test tubes of varying sizes.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a novel holder for test tubes and the like having the features and characteristics set forth above which is of relatively simplified construction, may be manufactured easily and cheaply, and is entirely efficient and effective in operation and use.

These and other objects of the present invention and the various features and details of the operation and construction thereof are hereinafter more fully set forth and described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a holder for a test tube and the like made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view on a reduced scale of the holder of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the holder of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the holder; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on line 55, Fig. 3.

Referring more specifically to the drawings there is illustrated therein a holder made in accordance with the present invention which is specifically designed to support test tubes or other long, slender articles. It will be understood, however, that the holder of the present invention may, by changing the dimensions thereof, be readily adapted to support beakers, flasks, and other items having dimensions different from the conventional test tube.

As illustrated in the drawings, a test tube holder made in accordance with the present invention comprises a base member having a series of supports 11 for test tubes or the like secured thereto. Preferably the base member 10 is of generally rectangular shape with the supports ice 11 being positioned in alignment along the length of the base. The base may be formed of sheet metal or similar material and if desired, a pair of resilient feet 12, 12 formed of rubber or cork or similar material may be 'provided at opposite downwardly bent ends of the base to prevent the base from marking or scratching a table top on which it is placed.

Each of the individual supports 11 are of generally similar construction and are formed of a continuous length of resilient metal wire, for example, spring steel. The wire forming each support 11 is bent at approximately its mid-point into generally circular form of lesser diameter than the external diameter of the article to be secured in the holder to form a support base 13 adapted to receive and engage the base of the article placed in the holder. The support base 13 terminates, preferably at the rear of the holder, in a pair of spaced parallel vertically extending leg portions 14, 14 which extend upwardly to the top of the support with each leg 14 terminating at the top of the support in a horizontal arcuate gripping portion extending from the rear to the front of the support. The arcuate gripping portions 15, 15 of each support 11 are diametrically opposed to one another and are adapted to engage and grip opposite sides of the article placed in the support.

In order to prevent sideward movement of the article the arcuate gripping portions 15, 15 of each support terminate in downwardly extending spaced parallel leg portions 16, 16 which terminate a short distance above the support base 13. This construction provides a support having four separate leg portions which are positioned substantially equally spaced circumferentially of the test tube, adjacent the side walls of the test tube and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the test tube.

In accordance with the present invention the support base 13 is secured to the base 10, for example, by soldering or welding, as indicated at 17 with the pairs of leg portions 14 and 16, respectively, adjacent opposite side edges of the base 10 and the arcuate gripping portions 15, 15 extending generally transversely of the longitudinal axis of the base 10. With this, there is no horizontal obstruction extending completely across the test tube and the contents of the test tube are visible to the user for the entire length of the test tube. The support 11 is initially formed so that the arcuate gripping portions 15, 15 are spaced apart a lesser distance than the diameter of the test tube to be gripped. When a test tube is inserted into the holder the gripping portions 15, 15 of the support are spread apart against the resiliency of the legs 14, 14. The base of the test tube engages the base 10 of the test tube holder within the support base 13 and in engagement with the support base, for example, as illustrated in Fig. 5 thereby securely positioning the test tube in the holder and preventing inadvertent removal of the test tube from the holder or displacement of the test tube in the holder.

While particular embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described herein it is not intended to limit the invention to such a disclosure and changes and modifications may be incorporated and embodied therein within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A holder for test tubes and the like comprising a base member and at least one support member secured to said base, said support member having a generally circular support base secured to said base member, a first pair of spaced apart upwardly extending resilient legs formed integrally with said support base and extending substantially perpendicular thereto, an arcuate gripping member formed integrally with the upper end of each leg of said first pair of legs and lying in a plane spaced from and parallel to the plane of said support base, said arcuate gripping member being diametrically opposed from each 3 other and spaced apart less than the external diameter of the test tube to be placed in the holder, and a second pair of legs formed integrally with said gripping members, said second pair of legs being spaced apart from each other and said first pair of legs, and extending downwardly substantially parallel to each other and to said first pair of legs, and terminating in free end portions a short distance above said support base.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second pairs of legs are positioned adjacent opposite side edges of said base member and said gripping members extend transversely of said base member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 604,909 Smith May 31, 1893 857,998 Hart June 25, 1907 1,370,122 Knowles Mar. 1, 1921 2,319,249 Meyer May 18, 1943 r a nth 

